Showtime Orders Season Three of ‘The Circus’

Showtime has ordered a third season of the political series The Circus, which returns April 15.

The new season will be hosted by John Heilemann, Mark McKinnon and Alex Wagner. Wagner, a CBS News correspondent and co-host of CBS This Morning: Saturday, joins the show as a permanent host, replacing Mark Halperin, who was dismissed following sexual harassment allegations levied against him.

The Circus “will continue to provide viewers with the same fast-paced, real-time, backstage perspective and eye-catching production qualities for which the show has been celebrated," Showtime said. The new season “will explore the stories behind the headlines and pull back the curtain on the behind-the-scenes drama unfolding in Washington and across the country in the run-up to the most consequential mid-term elections in our lifetimes.”

“The Circus has established itself as a primary source of insightful, comprehensive analysis during major political events,” said David Nevins, president and CEO of Showtime Networks Inc. “In these pivotal and turbulent times, we’re so thrilled to have Alex Wagner joining John Heilemann and Mark McKinnon to provide access and context to the personalities and events behind the week’s news.”

The Circus is produced by Left/Right for Showtime. Heilemann, McKinnon, Banks Tarver and Ken Druckerman are executive producers.